Tape applicator



Nov. 17, 1970 L. e. JORGENSEN TAPE APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 51, 1967 llllllllulllll'llllll Inventor LenfC-ldorgensfin Attorney Nov. 17, 1970 Filed Aug. 51, 1967 L. JORGENSEN TAPE APPLIGATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LeifQJorgensn Attorney United States Patent C 3,540,969 TAPE APPLICATOR Leif G. Jorgensen, 517 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, Ill. 60148 Filed Aug. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 664,676 Int. Cl. B32b 31/18; B31f 5/06 US. Cl. 15652-3 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to tape applying devices, and

more particularly to a device for automatically applying a predetermined length of adhesive tape from roll stock to a surface.

Tape applying devices can be used' for many purposes such as applying marking tape, securing packages, and splicing articles.

For purposes of best illustrating this invention the tape applying device is shown employed in connection with a machine for splicing together adjacent ends of a pair of motion picture film strips. It should be understood, however, that this is only one application of the invention, and it can be employed for various purposes in Connection with various different types of machines.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tape applying device of relatively simple design and construction which is capable of delivering a predetermined length of adhesive or pressure sensitive tape to surface.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision in a device of the type described, of a rotatable member carrying a roll of tape, a cutting element, and a reciprocating member which in turn carries a tape applying member and which reciprocates in response to the rotation of the rotating member to deliver a strip of tape to a surface.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an examination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation, with portions of the structure removed, of a tape applying device embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 38 are all front elevations of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, but showing the elements in various positions of a complete operating cycle.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain of the elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be shown to better advantage in other views.

Turning now to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the device includes a supporting structure, indicated generally at 10, which includes a deck 12 and a housing, indicated generally at 14, within which may be mounted a motor and gear box driving mechanism, indicated generally at 16. As the principle and operation of the motor and/ or gear box arrangement may be of a conventional character, the details of their construction are not illustrated in the drawings.

As best seen in FIG. 2, a motor or drive shaft 18 is disposed to project out of the housing 14, and mounted on the free. end of shaft 18 is a preferably circular,

relatively thin, flat, rotative plate member or disc, indicated generally at 20.

Projecting rearwardly from the central portion of member 20 is an integral boss or hub portion 22 having a central bore 24 extending therethrough to receive drive shaft 18. The member 20 may be secured on shaft 18 by means of a set screw 26.

Also mounted within the hub portion 22 of member 20 is an end of a horizontally disposed spindle which projects outwardly from the front side or face of member 30. It will be noted that spindle 30 is disposed off center from bore 24, the axis of rotation of member 20, so that as member 20 rotates spindle 30 moves in a circular path eccentrically of the axis of rotation of member 30. The purpose of this will be explained later in the specification.

Mounted on spindle 30 is a spool 36 for carrying a roll of adhesive or pressure sensitive tape.

Still referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that a relatively thin, narrow, elongated, vertical bar or control lever 40 is positioned outboardly adjacent the front face of member 30.

Lever 40 has intermediate its ends an elongated hole or slot 42 through which extends spindle 30 to form a floating pivotal connection between member 20 and lever 40.

At its upper end lever 40 is offset outboardly or forwardly, as at 44, to provide a space between the lever and member 20. At its upper and lower ends lever 40 is provided with holes 46 and 48, respectively.

Extending through upper hole 46 is one end of a horizontally disposed pin 56 on which is rotatably mounted, in the space between the lever and member 20, a cam wheel or roller 52.

At its opposite end pin 50 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 54, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 56 to a portion of housing 14.

Link 54 serves to limit the movement of lever 40, so that as member 20 rotates, it translates to lever 40 through spindle 30 a variable reciprocating motion. This motion is also controlled by the cam action of roller 52 as hereinafter described. Link 54 is biased toward a fixed position, as seen in FIG. 1, by a wire spring 58 which engages a boss 59 on said housing 14.

At its lower end lever 40 carries a tape applying pressure type roller 60 which is mounted on a pin 62, one end of which is journaled in control lever to lower hole 48 and the other end of which is journaled in a recess 66 in the lower end of a relatively thin, narrow, elongated, vertical retaining bar 64 which is spaced outboardly or forwardly of and in generally parallel relation with control lever 40.

Bar 64 also has a central slot 68, through which spindle 30 extends, and an upper slot 69 through which pin 50 extends. Bar 64 serves to assist lever 40 in carrying tape applying roller 60 and also to carry one end of pin 50 which is connected to link 54. Another function of bar 64 is to retain tape spool 36 on spindle 30.

Bar 64 is removably secured in place by means of a locking bar 70 pivotally secured at its lower end by a pin 72 to an upper portion of retaining bar 64. The upper edge 73 of bar 70 is forceably engageable with in 50 to maintain the retaining bar in place. When it is necessary to replace the roll of tape T on spool 36 with a new roll, locking bar 70 may be rotated to disengage its upper edge 73 from pin 50. This permits retaining bar 64 to be moved upwardly, as permitted by slots 68 and 69 in bar 64, and the lower recess 66 of bar 64 can be disengaged from pin 62. This permits bar 64 to be lifted forwardly so the roll of tape can be replaced on spool 36. This operation is then reversed to lock the retaining bar back in place.

In initially threading the free end of the tape from the roll on spool 36, it is passed over the forward edge of applying roller 60 and under the roller. After the initial threading operation, which is extremely simple, as predetermined lengths of tape are delivered and severed from the roll, as hereinafter described, the free end of the tape is always in position for the next application.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the free end of the tape is maintained against applying roller 60 by means of a guide block 74 which is pivotally mounted on lever 40 by a pin 76 and spring 78 and which has extending therefrom a leaf spring 79 which urges the tape against the roller 60 at all times.

As previously mentioned, a cam roller 52 is carried by lever 40 on pin 52 for engagement with a curved cam track or surface 82, a portion of which is presented by a cam rail 80 on the face of member 20 and another portion of which is presented by a wire spring 96 which also serves to bias the pressure wheel link as hereinafter described.

As cam roller 52 engages cam track 82, as member 20 rotates, lever 40 assumes a generally vertical, variable reciprocating motion Which brings the tape applying roller 60 into and out of tape applying position.

Carried on the face of member 20 is a block 84 to which is fixed a cutting knife or blade 86.

Also carried on the face of member 20 adjacent the cutting blade is a pressure wheel or roller 90 which is pivotally carried on an arm or link 92 which is pivoted to member 20 by pin 94.

Link 92 is biased into operative position b a wire spring 96 which also serves to provide a portion of the cam track 82. Spring 96 extends around a boss 97 on link 92 and around pin 98 on member 20 and has one end engaging link pivot pin 94 and the other end disposed to extend over the top of cam roller 52 toward the adjacent end of cam rail 80. Thus, spring 96 and cam rail 80 cooperate to provide a substantially continuous cam track surface 82.

Now to describe the operation of the device, in connection with a motion picture film splicer as previously mentioned for purposes of illustration.

After the tape has been placed on spool 36 and the retaining and locking bars 64 and 70, respectively, have been positioned, the free end of the tape is threaded around applying roller 60 as previously described.

At this point a pair of film strip ends F to be spliced are placed in adjacent, abutting end to end relation on the deck 12 of support 10.

At the start of the operating cycle the position of rotating member 20 is approximately at the position shown in FIG. 3.

At this point the motor is actuated and the rotating member rotates 360 degrees in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 3-8.

As the member approaches the position of FIG. 4, lever 40 is urged downwardly by the camming action of cam roller 52 and cam track 82. This caused applying roller to press the free end of the tape against the upper surfaces of the film strip ends to effect a splice. After the end of the tape has been applied to the surface, as member 20 continues to rotate through the positions of FIGS. 4 and the movement of lever 40 continues so that roller 60 continues to press against the tape to continue to apply it to the surface.

As the member approaches the position of FIG. 6, cutting blade 86 moves into position and, while roller 60 is still applying pressure to the tape to hold it in place and maintain tension on the tape, the cutting blade severs the tape.

After member has moved from the cutting position of FIG. 6 to the next position of FIG. 7 the pressure roller 90 is brought into engagement with the tape and this serves to smooth down the cut end of the tape to effect a perfect application of tape.

The member 20 then continues to rotate through the position of FIG. 8, where cam wheel 52 leaves cam track 82 to permit lever 40 to move upwardly, and then member 20 completes the cycle by returning to the position of FIG. 3 where a new cycle is commenced.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the entire operation is automatic and when the motor is actuated a complete cycle takes place. Of course, if desired, the device may be operated manually by replacing the motor and drive mechanism with a crank or other manual means for rotating the member 20.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for applying a predetermined length of ad hesive tape to a surface, comprising in combination:

(a) a support;

(b) a member mounted on said support for rotation about a fixed central axis;

(0) means for rotating said member about said axis;

(d) cam track means on said member;

(e) a tape holding spool carried by said member;

(f) a floating lever having one end pivotally connected to said support and having, intermediate its ends, an eccentric pin and slot connection with said member to accommodate variable reciprocal movement of said lever;

(g) said lever carrying at said one end thereof roller means engageable with said cam track means to cause the variable reciprocal movement of said lever relative to the rotation of said member;

(h) said lever carrying at its other end a tape applying roller engageable with a free end of said tape and operable upon the reciprocal and rotative movements of said lever and member, respectively, to urge said tape against said surface;

(i) cutting means carried by said member for severing said tape at a predetermined length after a free end of the tape has been applied to said surface;

(j) pressure roller means carried by said member operable to engage said severed length of tape and continue to press it against said surface.

2. A device for applying a predetermined length of adhesive tape to a surface, comprising in combination:

(a) a support;

(b) a member mounted on said support for rotation about a fixed central axis;

(0) means for rotating said member about said axis;

(d) cam track means;

(e) a tape holding spool;

(f) a floating lever having one end connected to said support and having, intermediate its ends, an eccentric pin and slot connection with said member to accommodate variable reciprocal movement of said lever;

(g) said lever carrying at said one end thereof cam means engageable with said cam track means to cause the variable reciprocal movement of said lever relative to the rotation of said member;

(h) said lever carrying at its other end a tape applying roller engageable with a free end of said tape and operable upon the reciprocal and rotative movements of said lever and member, respectively, to urge said said tape against said surface;

(i) cutting means carried by said member for severing said tape at a predetermined length after a free end of the tape has been applied to said surface.

3. A device according to claim 2, and including a removable retaining bar carried by said member in generally parallel relation with said lever and operable to retain said tape in position.

4. A device according to claim 3, and including a locking bar carried by said retaining bar and operable to lock said retaining bar in position.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein said lever is connected to said support by a link having one end pivoted to the lever and another end pivoted to the support.

6. A device for applying a predetermined length of adhesive tape to a surface, comprising in combination: (a) a member rotatable about a fixed central axis;

(b) means for rotating said member about said axis;

(c) tape holding means carried by said member;

(d) a floating lever having, intermediate its ends, an eccentric pin and slot connection with said member to accommodate variable reciprocal movement of said lever;

(e) cam means on said lever engageable with a cam track on said member to cause the reciprocal movement of said lever in response to the rotation of said member;

(f) a roller carried by said lever operable to deliver a free end of said tape to said surface;

(g) a cutting blade carried by said member for severing the free end of said tape after it has been delivered to said surface.

7. A device for applying a predetermined length of adhesive tape to a surface, comprising in combination: (a) a member rotatable about a fixed central axis; (b) means for rotating said member about said axis;

(c) tape holding means;

(d) a floating lever having, intermediate its ends, an eccentric pin and slot connection with said member to accommodate variable reciprocal movement of said lever;

(e) cam means on said lever engageable with a cam track to cause the reciprocal movement of said lever in response to the rotation of said member;

(f) roller means carried by said lever operable to deliver a free end of said tape to said surface;

(g) cutting means carried by said member for severing the free end of said tape after it has been delivered to said surface.

8. A device for applying a predetermined length of adhesive tape from roll stock to a surface, comprising, in combination:

(a) a rotatable member;

(b) a roll of tape mounted on said member;

(c) a floating lever pivotally connected to said member for reciprocal movement relative thereto;

(d) cam means on the member engageable with cam means on the lever for causing the reciprocal movement of said lever responsive to the rotational movement of said member;

(e) a tape applying roller mounted on the lever for delivering a portion of said tape to said surface;

(f) a cutting blade mounted on said member and rotatable therewith for engaging said tape and severing a predetermined length thereof.

9. A device for applying a predetermined length of adhesive tape from a roll to a surface, comprising, in combination:

(a) a rotatable member;

(b) a roll of tape;

(c) a lever pivotally connected to said member;

(d) means on said member engageable with a portion of said lever for causing a reciprocal movement of the lever responsive to rotative movement of the member;

(e) tape engaging means on said lever for delivering a portion of said tape to said surface;

(f) cutting means on said member and rotatable therewith for severing a predetermined length of tape from said roll.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,656,944 10/1953 Swett l5652l X 2,760,414 8/1956 Cornock et al. l56521 X 2,788,834 4/1957 Slaughter 156--52l X V BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner I. M. HANLEY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

